Engaged Lifestyles: A Solution to Cognitive Aging

There was a community-wide dialogue to initiate efforts to increase awareness of cognitive health issues and needs of older adults held at the . The workshop was entitled “Engaged Lifestyle: A Solution to Cognitive Aging”.Cognitive health is a key aspect of successful aging. Many older adults, when they sustain a loss of cognitive capacities, become partially or fully dependent on family or institutional care, which is very expensive for families and the community. The National Institutes on Aging, Health and Mental Health; and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention have recognized the need for incorporating a focus on cognitive health issues in public health prevention programs for the aging population.Dr. Sudershan Pasupuleti, Hartford Geriatric Faculty Scholar, presented preliminary observations from the Brain Fitness Program study, in addition to the emerging evidence on improving cognitive function in older adults. The following speakers participated in a panel discussion:Dr. Jeffrey Gold, Provost and Executive Vice President of Health AffairsDr. Beverly Schmoll, Dean of the College of Health Science and Human Service Justin Moor, Vice President, Area Office on Aging - Northwest Ohio Region Ms. Tina Wozniak, County CommissionerDr. Barbara Kopp Miller, Director of the Center for Successful Aging Dr. Terry Cluse-Tolar, Chair of UT Social Work DepartmentMs. Salli Bollin, Executive Director of the Alzheimer’s Association of Northwest Ohio Dr. Barbara Gunning, Director of Health Services, Lucas County Health Department. Dr. Sudershan Pasupuleti, Hartford Geriatric Faculty Scholar, will present preliminary observations from the Brain Fitness Program study, in addition to the emerging evidence on improving cognitive function in older adults. In addition, the workshop will include a panel discussion that includes a few speakers listed above.